Trump and Starmer agree Strait of Hormuz must reopen amid tensions
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President Donald Trump joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday to discuss rising tensions in the Middle East, focusing on the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart global shipping.
Downing Street said the leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East and, in particular, the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the resumption of global shipping. expression.
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United Kingdom prime minister Keir Stamer during a press conference giving an update on the situation in the Middle East at Downing Street in London, United Kingdom, on Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Tolga Akmen/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market. They decided to talk again soon after.”
The call comes amid a rapidly intensifying conflict in the region, where Iran has closed off the strategically vital strait since the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iranian targets on February 28.
The military action triggered Tehran’s swift retaliation and escalated into a broader regional war, with Iran sending missiles to several neighboring countries not directly involved in the initial conflict.
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President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in the Oval Office of the White House on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
On March 21, Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding the reopening of the important sea route through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that failure to comply with these rules could result in further US action, including possible attacks on Iran’s energy infrastructure.
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Bulk Carrier, Belray, in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, at North Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, on 22 March 2026. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Sunday’s conversation between Trump and Starmer perhaps reflected a thawing of the tense relationship between the two leaders.
Trump has publicly criticized the British government and said Britain “should have moved much faster” in allowing the United States to use British military bases for attacks targeting Iranian missile sites.
Starmer also argued that the use of UK bases in the region could only be justified under the principle of “collective self-defence”.
He initially refused to support the US-Israeli military operation and came under constant criticism from the White House.
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Trump, meanwhile, applied public pressure on Sunday by sharing a “Saturday Night Live” clip mocking the British prime minister’s handling of the crisis.
